Please note: My brain thinks Moiraine is a protagonist and won't be convinced otherwise.

This is one of my favorite books in terms of plot development and has several of my favorite moments. I especially like the introduction of Liandrin's circle. The scope of the world broadens, and my favorite characters get a lot of screen time. However it also starts the motif of everyone hates Moiraine and thinks she's so manipulative and cruel, when it seems clear to me that she's buckling under the strain of being one of the only competent/knowledgeable people around half the time. I just think of how the only times Perrin smells fear on her are the times when she thinks she might be wrong, have the wrong dragon or the wrong timing to be prepared, but she's fearless when she just thinks she might die or have to exhaust herself to the point of passing out.